Neuro Flashcards

1
Q

Pain

A

acute or chronic-spinal disc disease, trigeminal neualgia, neuropathic, degenerative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

HA and migraine

A

may indicate organic disease, stress response, vasodilation, skeletal muscle tension, or combination of factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Seizures

A

alteration in sensation, behavior, movement, perception, or consciousness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Dizziness and Vertigo

A

sensation of imbalance or movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Level of consciousness

A

evaluated clinically as the patients ability to respond appropriately to stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Mental status

A

orientation, short and long term memory, appearance, and behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Language ability

A

can patient communicate through speech and writing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Aphasia

A

deficiency in language function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Agnosia

A

inability to interpret or recognize objects seen through the special senses (visual and tactile)

  • “what do you do with a pencil”
  • “what is this object?”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Motor

A

requires ability to understand and normal motor strength

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Glasgow Coma Scale

A

assessing response to stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

CT scan

A

cross sectional images of the cranial cavity; may use contrast media

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

MRI

A

cross-sectional images of cranial cavity using megnets; contrast may be used

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

PET and SPECT scans

A

nuclear medicine procedure that produce 3 dimensional images

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Cerebral Angiogram

A

visualization of the cerebral blood vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

altered level of consciousness

A

apparent in the patient who is not oriented, does not follow commands, or needs persistent stimuli to achieve a state of alertness

17
Q

LOC

A

on a continuum from normal alertness and cognition to coma

18
Q

Coma

A

unconsciousness, unarousable unresponsiveness

19
Q

Head CT without contrast

A

determining if intracranial bleed

20
Q

CXR

A

may be prone to aspiration and pneumonias

21
Q

Labs to look at

A

CBC, glucose, electrolytes, osmolality

22
Q

What does a patient look like with intracranial pressure

A
  • limited space for skull expansion secondary to volume change in brain tissue, blood or CSF
  • pupillary changes and impaired extraocular movements
  • weakness in one extremity or one side
  • Constant headache that increases in intensity
23
Q

what is the medical management to decrease cerebral edema?

A
  • osmotic diuretics: MANNITOL to dehydrate the brain tissue and reduce cerebral edema
  • hypertonic saline
  • fluid restriction
  • lowering body temperature: reducing the oxygen and metabolic requirements of the brain
  • seizure prophylaxis
24
Q

Nursing interventions

A
  • Maintain airway
  • Maintaining fluid status
  • Managing nutritional needs
  • Maintaining skin and joint integrity
  • Maintaining body temperature
  • Promoting Bowel and bladder function
  • Sensory Stimulation and Communication
25
Q

Seizures

A

are abrupt, abnormal, excessive and uncontrolled electrical discharge of neurons within the brain

26
Q

Epilepsies

A

group of syndromes, characterized by unprovoked, recurring seizures, classified by specific patterns of clinical features

27
Q

What could cause a seizure

A
  • extreme stress
  • overwhelming fatigue
  • acute alcohol ingestion
  • Exposure to flashing lights
  • Cocaine, aerosols, inhaling glue
28
Q

Lab and diagnostic tests

A
  • alcohol and illicit drug screen

- EEG and MRI

29
Q

Interventions during a seizure

A
  • protect from injury
  • maintain airway and reduce aspiration risk, but do not restrain or open jaw to insert airway
  • Document onset and duration of seizure
    • findings prior to seizure, LOC, apnea, cyanosis, motor activity, incontinence
30
Q

Interventions after a seizure

A
  • document events leading to, occuring during and after
  • side lying position
  • assess for injuries, neuro checks, VS
  • Reorient
  • Initiate seizure precautions
31
Q

Medical management Pharmacology

A
  • not curative, but control with minimal side effects
  • selected on basis of seizure type
  • Do not stop abruptly
  • Example: Tegretol, Klonopin, Neurontin, Dilatin
32
Q

Medical management

Surgical

A
  • If intracranial tumor, abscess, cyst

- Microsurgical: EEG with depth electrodes, electrocortical mapping, implanted generator

33
Q

Referrals

A
  • Social service for obtaining medications
  • Coping and reducing fear of seizures
  • Discrimination on the diagnosis of epilepsy is illegal